Course Title: Develop a management plan for a designated area

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2012

Course Code: ENVI5049C

Course Title: Develop a management plan for a designated area

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5161 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management

Course Contact: Bruce Partland

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 8323

Course Contact Email: bruce.partland@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 200

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Satisfactory completion of all First year courses

Course Description

This competency standard covers the process of developing a management plan for a designated natural resource area. It requires the ability to define the need for a management plan, undertake preliminary
planning activities, prepare a site description, analyse site information, identify management strategies and prepare the management plan. Developing a management plan for a natural resource area requires
knowledge of management planning principles and issues, basic civil design, environmental assessment, survey and analysis techniques, native fauna and flora, pest plant and animals, revegetation techniques,
wildlife habitats, and soil, plant and water testing processes and procedures.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

RTC5504A Develop a management plan for a designated area

Element:

1. Define the need for a management plan

2. Undertake preliminary planning activities

3. Prepare a site description

4. Analyse site information and description

5. Identify management strategies

6. Prepare the management plan

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Management plan objectives are identified for the designated
area.
1.2 Brief is agreed in consultation with client.
1.3 Planning team including specialists and consultants is identified.

2.1 Major stakeholders are identified.
2.2 Availability of specialists to assist in management planning
work is ascertained and contracts are prepared where required.
2.3 Timelines for development of the management plan and
reporting arrangements to client are established.
2.4 Resources required for the development of management
strategies are identified.

3.1 Landscape values of the area are identified and mapped .
3.2 Physical features and characteristics of the area are identified
and mapped.
3.3 Land uses, including current, cultural, and historical
modifications, are researched and their effects on the natural
resource area are determined and recorded.
3.4 Physical condition of site is assessed and documented
3.5 Biological characteristics of the site are documented

4.1 Information is evaluated in terms of core principles and objectives.
4.2 Documents produced including plans, technical reports and maps.
4.3 Priorities and key conservation issues are determined.
4.4 Longitudinal projections of continuing impacts are prepared.
4.5 Land capability is assessed.
4.6 Opportunities and constraints to meeting planning objectives and goals are identified and documented.
4.7 Presentation to stakeholders/clients is undertaken and feedback incorporated into planning documentation.

5.1 Managementstrategies are identified that address defined objectives.
5.2 Management strategies are designed to alleviate existing impacts or to target management actions.
5.3 Management strategies are costed and compared to existing budgets and available resources.
5.4 Staging of work is planned to prioritise outcomes and management resource allocation.
5.5 Consultation with stakeholders/clients is undertaken and feedback incorporated into planning documentation.

6.1 Site information and management strategies are documented into a draft management plan for consultation.
6.2 Consultation with stakeholders and clients is undertaken according to enterprise guidelines.
6.3 Changes are made to the draft plan, and a final plan is prepared and presented to client
 

Learning Outcomes


This is a competency based course


Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities include:

1. Familiarity with an existing management plans, their structure and content.

2. Meetings with Stakeholder groups with an interest in a designated area (real world)

3. Site assessment of a designated area, with particular emphasis on existing conditions in relation to specific group tasks assigned

4. Communication with identified stakeholders in order to confirm tasks and proposed management strategies.

5. Group Meetings and class updates on Wiki’s

6. Preparation of a major document in which all students have engaged, through specific Group projects and sharing of learning between groups


Teaching Schedule

The Teaching schedule during Second semester includes the following:

  • Wednesdays 1.30-3.30pm
  • Fridays 9.30am-12.30, with occassional all-day field Trips.

A detailed Timetable will be presented at our first Meeting.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Resources such as DSE and Parks Vic Management Plan Templates, and any other resources deemed usefull will be presented in class or on Blackboard.

It should be noted that a considerable amount of private research will be necessary to complete the tasks for this course. 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course may include tests, assignments, reports and observation of work in the field


Assessment Tasks

There are 3 Major assessment Tasks for this Course, and a number of Hurdle Tasks that each need to be completed in order to gain competency for this Course.

The Assessment tasks are:

1. Review a Management Plan (Available marks=10)

2. Site Assessment  (Available marks=40)

3. Group contribution to completed final document (Available marks= 50)

The Hurdle tasks must be completed, or contributed to (eg in a Group task), by each student. This is a requisite for competency to be achieved.

The Hurdle tasks are:

1. Objectives and preliminary list of Stakeholders entered on Group Wiki

2. Site Description / Existing conditions entered on Group Wiki

3. Group presentation: Issues and priorities in light of land capability

4. Group presentation of Draft plan to stakeholders.


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview